The Two Expectations with Eckart Witzigmann

Chefs encoding black boxes.

Eckart Witzigmann had sent a viral clip to Vietnamese candidates, saying “I’m excited to experience Vietnamese cuisine with talented chefs. However, do remember I’m not an easy person to persuade.”

If he was easy, Eckart might not be the one who cooked and talked to Britain Queen or US Presidents in special important occasions.

If he was easy, he might not have a 75 years-old birthday celebration with 6 super stars chefs cooking in his “every chef must see” party.

And if he was easy, he might not carry a compact camera everywhere to take pictures of special spices and cooking methods that performed by different people in different cultures.

The more you had followed what international newspapers have said about Eckart, the more interesting and expecting you’d had when he would visit Viet Nam.

“Chef of the century” Eckart Witzigmann would attend in the final round.

Viet Nam has Michelin-star chefs

Ending days are the most expecting time of culinary world, when The Michelin Guide – the most glorious culinary guidebooks of each country would announce Michelin stars’ owners of the year.

On his personal face book, Eckart had relentlessly pledged his students for days. From bustling New York of the US to mysterious Tokyo of Japan, from magnificent Paris to quietly antique Munich, there were chefs or restaurants that received new stars or upgraded to more stars.

Meanwhile, Eckart was standing on summit moments of The Golden Spoon contest with his nice smile. He was one of the first chefs in the world getting 3 stars Michelin – “the Oscar prize of culinary field”. It’s totally not lame comparing how pricy and desirable of Michelin golden stars to Oscar statue in the 7th art.

Michelin-rated restaurants, 1 or 3 stars, all have high-quality reputation and the most expensive prices, ranking among top of the world.

Although preservation in Michelin-rated restaurants can take a whole year, millions of diners still have a desire to taste wonderful cuisine from Michelin-rated chefs.

And Vietnamese people had hoped that Michelin secret examiners would went together or at least they would look and check Vietnamese cuisine out.

My dear, when will we have Michelin-rated chefs?

The Golden Spoon final round gathered all experienced and reliable in culinary field.

Vietnamese spices were in the “must have” list of world’s kitchen cabinets

I usually wondered what made 75 years old Eckart, who has had most of glorious reputation in his lifetime, to take a long flight to participate The Golden Spoon Awards. I emailed him but he had not replied. Instead, I received a copy of an interview in a Germany culinary magazine, in which he talked about the importance of local spices.

The chef named “important influence to cooking styles of the whole Europe” shared his thoughts, “There are always some “must-have” lists in any classy restaurants but they also have a list of regional products and spices. I like to try local products every time I come to a new land and always think about how to bring the most delicious specialties of each region to the global common “must-have” list.”

He did not clarify what specialties he brought from his homeland or from where he had worked as personal chef of US President John F. Kennedy to his “must-have” list, which should apply for every standard kitchen. However, he has brought an endless inspiration: if there is a Vietnamese spice in this “must-have” list, what would it be?

Let’s follow the Map of Vietnamese spices from The Golden Spoon contest to see your choice is any close to Eckart’s.

NOTE: The most excellent 15 teams would compete in the final round of The Goden Spoon contest 2016, which took place in Dec 6th and 7th 2016 at the Military Zone 7 Gymnastic (202 Hoang Vjan Thu st., ward 9, Phu Nhuan dist., HCMC). The jury included 13 judges with all professional judges were highly professional and experienced in culinary world.]

Main contain of the final round with “secret ingredients” was as following:

- The Organization prepared main ingredients and spices in black boxes

- 15 teams took turn to ballot

- 90 minutes to brainstorm the menu and to shop groceries

- After shopping time, the farm market would be close and no one would be allowed to take, to return, or to exchange what they had had.

- 90 minutes for preparation and party table set-up

- Official cooking time: 140 minutes

By Kien Chinh/TTTG